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2022 NBA Trade Deadline: Exploring the potential of a Timberwolves trade for Jerami Grant

By Ben Beecken

Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant could be a potential trade target for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant could be a potential trade target for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons defends against D’Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The 2022 NBA Trade Deadline is less than three weeks away. Can the Minnesota Timberwolves make a splash and acquire Jerami Grant as they fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference?

The Timberwolves need to improve their frontcourt rotation

The Timberwolves have had a question mark at the power forward spot for the past several years. Since the Feb. 2020 trade deadline, the Timberwolves have added D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, and Malik Beasley to their roster.

The only spot in the starting lineup that wasn’t directly addressed with a major acquisition was the power forward position.

Yes, the Wolves drafted Jaden McDaniels in the third round in Nov. 2020, but he was the third of three first-round picks and was expected to be more of a project. As it turns out, he’s been more NBA-ready than expected — on defense, at least — but is best cast as at the 3-spot at this stage.

They also acquired their current starting power forward, Jarred Vanderbilt, as part of the four-team trade that brought Beasley to Minnesota nearly two years ago.

Vanderbilt has been a revelation next to Towns, adding length, athleticism, rebounding ability, strong defense, and energy that the Wolves were sorely lacking. Virtually any lineup combination that includes Vanderbilt has a strong net rating, and head coach Chris Finch has noted many times how difficult it is to take their version of Dennis Rodman-lite off the floor.

But the Wolves are still a bit thin in the frontcourt, playing a combination of McDaniels, Taurean Prince, and Naz Reid at the 4 behind Vanderbilt. Adding a multi-dimensional player to the rotation who is best-suited to play the 4 would be a boon to the Wolves’ hopes to avoid the play-in in the West.

Vanderbilt could continue to start in a huge lineup, or he could move to the bench and still play heavy minutes alongside as one of the first players off the bench.

Let’s take a look at the idea of landing Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant.

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